PNWS AWWA Spring Conference

May 6th 2016

THRUST RESTRAINT FOR

BURIED WATER SYSTEMS
Doug Schlepp, PE
FORCES CAUSING THRUST
Static Forces
• Internal Pressures

Dynamic Forces
• Water Hammer
RESTRAINING TECHNIQUES
Blocks
• Bearing (Thrust Block)
• Gravity
• Deadman
Restrained Joint Systems
• Flange
• Glands
• Gaskets
• RJ Pipe
Tie Rods
Combined Systems
THRUST BLOCK - BEARING
Bearing Strength Sb
Design Soil (lb./ft2)
Muck 0
• Size varies with pipe size, soil Soft Clay 1,000
Silt 1,500
and pressure 3,000
Sandy Silt
• Transfers thrust to bearing area Sandy Silt 4,000
Sandy Clay 6,000
Hard Clay 9,000
THRUST BLOCK – BEARING
Construction
• Distribute load uniformly to bearing soils
• Align bearing face with pipe
• Preserve access to fitting and connections
• Use correct concrete mix design
GRAVITY BLOCK
Design and Construction
• Formwork
• Secure connection between block
and pipe
• Proper concrete embedment
• Transfers thrust from pipe to strap to block
DEAD MAN BLOCK
Dead Man
• Dead weight restraint - skin friction
• Keyway thrust to soil
• Pipe/fitting and block connection
• Transfers thrust from fitting to block
FLANGED JOINTS
Flanged assemblies
• Valves to fittings
• Fitting to pipe
• Flange coupling adapter
• Rigid
• May or may not transfer
thrust to pipe
RESTRAINT GLANDS
Restraint Glands
• Set Screw or wedge
• Mechanical Joints
• Transfers thrust from fitting to pipe
• Field installation
RESTRAINT GASKETS
Gasket Systems
• Push-on and Mechanical
• Locking teeth in gasket
• Field installation
• Push-on requires cut to remove
• Transfers thrust to pipe
RESTRAINED JOINT PIPE
RJ Systems
• Push-on and Mechanical
• Welded bead on male end
with restraining gland
• Specific design lengths
• Transfers thrust to pipe
RESTRAINED JOINT SYSTEMS
Development Length
• Transfer of thrust to pipe
• Relies on skin friction between pipe and soil
• Function of pressure, pipe size, bedding and soil type
TIE RODS
Rod restrain systems
• Hydrants, dead man, RJ pipe systems
• Transfers thrust through rods to point of connection
• Number of rods and size designed
COMBINATION SYSTEMS
Combined Restraint
Systems
• Inadequate space
• Economics
• Redundancy
TEMPORARY RESTRAINTS
Dead End
• Timbers
• Ecology or Thrust Blocks
• RJ Pipe and Fittings
• Closed Valve?
FREE BODY DIAGRAM
Resultant force
• Pressure and area
• Opposing forces
• Methods to resist resultant force
• Thrust, gravity or dead man blocks
• Shackle rods
• RJ pipe and fittings
SYSTEM FAILURE
Design and construct to avoid system failure
• Know the conditions
• Understand the design
• Factor of safety